It’s 12:19 am on December 2.
I’m sitting on a double decker bus coming from Bangkok, destination- Phuket, Thailand.
This is my second overnight bus ride in a week.
Time spent on a charter bus this week – 32 hours… give or take
That doesn’t even count the cars/buses/trucks to get us to the buses.
Yesterday was a flight from Sofia, Bulgaria to Doha, Qatar and an overnight flight from Doha to Bangkok, Thailand.
Needless to say, I’m exhausted.
My whole squad looks like a bunch of smelly, backpack-carrying, oily-haired, zombies.
I should be sleeping.
I should be knocked out.
But I’m restless.
I suppose that is God telling me I have something to say.
I’ve been thinking a lot about New England.
Some of it has been nostalgia, most has been analyzing.
I’ve been thinking, pondering, and praying for the region of New England.
Being G Squad’s (2nd Generation) token New Englander makes me proud. I think every squad needs a rep from Red Sox Nation.
There is something that people from New England have, that I really appreciate. I love the honesty. I love the realness. I love the, “I-don’t-kayair-I’m-from-Bahstin” 'tude. The dedication to the Boston sports teams is incredible. GO CELTICS!
I love the “I-don’t-take-crap” mentality. It could come from our generational ties to our ancestors that said, “Aw, hell no,” to taxation without representation in the fledgling years of our nation.
I’m proud to be a yankee. (Not a New York Yankee, hell no.)
I like where I come from.
But as I look around my squad and see that most people are from the midwest/southeast region of the U.S., my heart gets a little sad.
We’re missing something, and now that I think about it, I knew it was missing when I was in high school. I remember feeling the longing for something more, but taking it out as the “I hate where I come from.”
"Anywhere is better than here."
Typical teenage angst.
I love hearing about my squadmate’s families and backgrounds, and the way their faces light up while they talk about them.
I’ve discovered a pattern, a common theme between most of their stories.
A thriving Christ-centered community.
Dear, Boston friend, do you have one of those?
I’m not denying they exist in New England, I’m sure there are some.
I actually felt like I was becoming a part of one right before I left for the Race.
(If you need a church home, check out Genesis in Woburn!)
But I did go to a Christian College on Boston’s South Shore, and I barely saw it there. (Not that I was helping much.)
What if our honesty, rawness, and dedication in our words, attitudes, and to our sports teams, was the same HONESTY, RAWNESS, AND DEDICATION WE GAVE CHRIST AND EACH OTHER?
DO YOU FEEL HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THIS?
Independence is good, but COME ON!
Life is not meant to be lived alone.
It’s about breaking through your stubborn, rebellious, and strong headed New England roots and realizing it’s okay to not be okay.
It’s okay to let people in and let them know that you’re really not as strong as you put on.
It’s okay to admit that being a Christian in New England is hard, and you need people to come along side you to support you and push you up.
Here’s a shock to New England blood- you’re not always right.
(Except about sports, we’re always right about sports, GO PATRIOTS! Haha, just kidding- kinda)
I’m bummed/glad that I am discovering now, on this bus, in Thailand, the Lord’s desire to grow his life-giving family in the New England region.
I’m bummed that I missed out on it while I was there, thinking, “I can do this on my own.”
I’m glad because it excites me to know that I’ve experienced a life-giving, Christ-centered, and supportive community.
And it's coming your way Bruins fans!!!!
Get pumped, New England.
The Spirit of the Lord is being unleashed!
RevivalRevivalRevivalRevival!!!
